The Santa Barbara Independent

Retired Santa Barbara County Fire Marshal Speaks Out Against Painted Cave Housing Development

Housing By Callie Fausey

Former Fire Marshal Rob Hazard cites fire risks and inadequate infrastructure in appeal to the County Planning Commission.

Mona Miyasato to Step Down from Santa Barbara County’s Top Spot

Politics By Nick Welsh

After 12 years at the helm, County Executive Officer Miyasato announced she will be leaving this July.

‘They’re Escalating’: A Q&A with Rob Bonta on Trump’s Immigration Crackdown

Immigration By Nigel Duara, CalMatters

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has sued the Trump administration more than 50 times. One recent victory ended a National Guard deployment in Los Angeles.

Man Found Dead at Santa Barbara’s Alameda Park

Public Safety By Ella Heydenfeldt

First responders found the 65-year-old man lying unresponsive on the ground near a bench Friday morning, according to police.

From ‘Simpsons’ to Springsteen

Music By Leslie Dinaberg

Hank Azaria and The EZ Street Band fete The Boss, for charity, at the Chumash Casino.

Dos Pueblos Girls’ Basketball Grinds Out 46-38 Victory Over Oxnard

Sports By Victor Bryant

Kindah Ahmad-Reda and Carly letendrew combined for 35 points against Oxnard

UCSB Arts & Lectures ‘Air Time’; Terence Blanchard on the ‘Miles Davis and John Coltrane Centennial’

Audio By Charles Donelan, UCSB Arts & Lectures

A conversation with Charles Donelan.

Divine I Am Retreat

Fri, Jan 23 5:00 PM

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Blues Society Presents Tommy Castro

Sat, Jan 17 7:00 PM

Santa Barbara

Grand Opening at Ghirardelli Chocolate & Ice Cream

Thu, Jan 22 3:00 PM

Santa Barbara

Boogie for our Bodies

Thu, Jan 22 6:30 PM

Santa Barbara

Sweet Home Santa Barbara-The Doublewide Kings

Sat, Jan 24 7:30 PM

Santa Barbara

Billy F Gibbons and the BFG Band

Sat, Jan 24 7:30 PM

Santa Barbara

18th Annual Santa Barbara Community Seed Swap

Sun, Jan 25 11:00 AM

Santa Barbara

Lucinda Lane Returns to SOhO

Mon, Jan 26 6:30 PM

Santa Barbara

CWC Docs: Pistachio Wars

Tue, Jan 27 7:00 PM

Santa Barbara

The Astonishing Tale of Ludmilla and Thad Welch

Wed, Jan 28 5:30 PM

Santa Barbara

Friday Night Supper Club at Tyler x Lieu Dit

Fri, Jan 30 6:00 PM

Santa Barbara

multimedia Stories

UCSB Arts & Lectures ‘Air Time’; Terence Blanchard on the ‘Miles Davis and John Coltrane Centennial’

Audio

A conversation with Charles Donelan.

‘Welcome to Isla Vista’ Episode 2: Student Stories, 1954-2016

Audio

The rise and fall of I.V.’s building boom, memories of live music, and cockroaches.

Santa Barbara Community Holds Vigil in Response to Fatal ICE Shooting in Minneapolis

Photo

Residents and organizers speak out against the escalating federal immigration enforcement across the country.

Saturday Storm Brings Flooding, Tragedy to Santa Barbara County

Photo

Photos from the latest in a series of storms that have soaked the region this rainy season.

Christmas Eve Storm Passes Santa Barbara Without Major Damage

Photo

Flooding was reported on surface streets, though shoppers still visited downtown Santa Barbara on December 24, 2025.

Our 2025 Local Heroes Luncheon Honoring the Heroes in Our Community

Video

Watch the 2025 Local Heroes Luncheon and hear from our honorees.

‘Air Time’ from UCSB Arts & Lectures with Molly Tuttle

Audio

A conversation in Charles Donelan.

Colm Tóibín on ‘Air Time from UCSB Arts & Lectures’

Audio

A conversation with Charles Donelan.

UCSB Arts & Lectures ‘Air Time’: Ocean Vuong on ‘The Emperor of Gladness’

Audio

A conversation with Charles Donelan.

DJ Javier and Mother Dough Bagels Come Together for a Kamayan Feast to Celebrate Their Roots

Filipino dining tradition gathers supporters to celebrate art, community, and MCASB.

Arts & Entertainment

Bibliophobia, Continued

Film By Josef Woodard

Screening on January 9, the new documentary The Librarians engagingly chronicles the campaign for book banning and censorship within the past five years, in Texas, Florida, and beyond.